How to Write a Thank You Email
In today’s increasingly competitive world, job interview processes are becoming ever more complex. Gone are the days when acing a single interview would land you the job, and now, you’re likely to be competing with a large pool of candidates in multiple rounds of interviews or group activities.
However, despite all of these new and often unexpected obstacles, there remains one simple way to stick your head above the crowd. The “thank you email”. It’s quick, simple, and almost always well-received. It also gives you the opportunity to reassert your interest, qualifications, and suitability for the position in case anything was lost in the maze of interviews. Here then, our step-by-step guide will take you through how to write a thank you email so you can go the extra mile on the path to your dream job.
When to Send a Thank You Email
Knowing when to send a thank you email is important. Leave it too long and it may be difficult for the interviewer to put a face to the name. Send it too quickly and it’s likely that the interviewer will think it’s just a generic email you send to everyone.
Ideally, your thank you email should be sent within 24 hours of your interview. However, if your interview is on a Friday afternoon, you should wait until first thing Monday morning to hit send. Either way, it’s a good idea to outline everything you want to say as soon as you leave the interview, that way, it will remain fresh in your mind and you can address questions or specific examples given by the interviewer comprehensively.
How to Write a Thank You Email – Core Elements
When considering how to write a thank you email, there are a number of core elements to focus on. Study each element and use the advice to create your own, personalized thank you email each time you have an interview.
How to Title a Thank You Email
The subject line of a thank you email is the first thing the interviewer will see. Remaining professional while pointing to the content of your email is crucial. You should include both your first name and surname, the job title, and the words “Thank You”. Your subject line might look like this, or a variation thereof:
Thank You – Janine Smith – Marketing Manager |
How to Begin a Thank You Email
Once your subject line is complete, you can think about how to begin your thank you email. Firstly, your greeting should be professional, and address all of the people present during your interview. Secondly, you must include the position you we’re applying for and the company name, alongside a statement of thanks. The first lines of your email should look something like this:
Dear Mr./Ms. (Interviewer’s Name/s)
I enjoyed our meeting today for the position of (Position Name) at (Company Name). I wanted to thank you for giving me the time to express my interest and share my experience, and I hope you will consider me for the position. |
How to Compose a Thank You Email
After your eye-catching and succinct intro, the rest of your email should identify and answer questions that were raised during the interview. If there were specific points you feel that you didn’t answer well, you can address these. Alternatively, if you have a fresh idea, you can also express this in the body of your email. The key point here is to get down to the core skills and experience you can bring to the position, and how you might improve any existing processes, as well as highlight new ideas that you can bring to the company.
In addition, make sure you keep it brief and to the point. It’s probable that your interviewers have spoken with many potential candidates over the course of the day, and reading through an essay on why you are the best choice for the position is the last thing on their mind.
How to Send a Thank You Email
When asking how to send a thank you email, there are three points to remember:
- Thank your interviewers again
- Include a CTA such as “get in touch” or “view my portfolio” etc.
- Use a professional closing
The final lines of your email should look something like this:
Once again, thank you for your time today, and please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me if you have any further questions.
Best Regards
Janine Smith |
Before you send, ensure you proofread your email at least twice and correct any grammar or spelling mistakes, check any attachments or links you have included, and ensure you are sending the email to the correct email address/es.
How to Write a Thank You Email – Do’s and Don’ts
While our guide on how to write a thank you interview email might seem complex, the process is really very simple. However, there are a few do’s and don’ts that you should pay attention when writing and before sending.
Do’s | Don’ts |
Send your email within 24 hours. | Send your email at the weekend. |
Address your email to all interviewers present. | Be casual or overly familiar. You are still effectively being interviewed for the position. |
Write a strong subject line that includes the words “Thank You”, your name and the position applied for. | Bombard the interviewers with follow up emails or unnecessary information. Be patient. |
Highlight your qualifications, skills, and experience. | Include links to social media profiles that may contain embarrassing photos. |
Include links to your portfolio, website or an attachment with your CV and previous work. | Send poorly written emails with spelling or grammar mistakes. Always proofread. Twice. |
?When thinking about how to thank someone in an email, our guide can give you a solid foundation from which to work. Start a new conversation now and show your gratitude. However, if you are looking for more tips & tricks on how to land your dream job, and much more, then take a look at the Spike blog now.